What worked in 2015?

[WapitiTalk1]

If successful on elk for the 2015 season, what sealed the deal for you? Was it calling, still hunting, spot and stalk, tree standing, ground blind, etc.? If a combination of tactics brought an elk home for dinner, please share that hunt with us and the tale of the tap.

[Swede]

For me it all comes down to patience and persistence. Day 12, 4:30 PM, Whack.

[CurlyTail]

Shot opportunity #1 - sitting a pinch point on a known travel corridor. Screw up #1 - forgot release in the car, no backup release

Shot opportunity #2 - Locator Bugle - answer received. Sneak close. Combo calling with cow calls, small bull screams, and raking Screw up #2 - Couldn't get bow drawn. Bull was at 10 yards but uphill and behind the shooter. Things just happened too fast.

Shot opportunity #3 - Cold Calling with cow sounds. Screw up #3 - Caught napping. Boots off, socks off, snacking. Bull bugled at close range and the shooter thought it was the caller and didn't realize a real bull was close. Finally got set up, stalked to 45 yards, and got busted by swirling wind. Might count as several screw ups.

Shot opportunity #4 - Calling - Bull Advertising Sequence with raking. Went Ballistic on the calling for 15 minutes. 6x6 Bull answers from a distance and then trots into perfect bow range 60 sec. later. Screw up #4 Not ready to shoot when the Bull stopped broadside at 30 yards. Shot the Bull at 40 yards , arrow went 4 inches high, non-lethal shot. Spent the next day and a half searching for a bull that was not dead.

Shot opportunity #5 - sitting a pass. No calling. Screw up #5 - Rear sight fell off the muzzleloader on the hike up. Out of range for Archery.

Shot opportunity #6 - Locator Bugle - Bull was very close, came in with combo of soft cow calls, small bull screams, and raking No Screw Ups this time. Whack!

[twinkieman]

Calling our way to the bull.
1. Cow called our way into a satellite bull, which Heartwood killed!( Heartwood will have to write the story)

2. Breeding sequence, with a twist. Heartwood did a breeding sequence, while after 10 minutes or so, I moved closer to the bull, cow calling like I was a cow that was moving away. While no good shot opportunity came of it, the herd bull we were after did come in, the biggest 5 point I've ever seen in Idaho.

3. Threat level II

4. Threat level III

5. Lost cow calls to non bugling bulls, seemed to fire them up pretty well on several occasions between the 12yh, through the 17Th

[Heartwood]

First week of Sept.
- basic cow calls pulled in several bulls

2nd half of Sept.
- location bugles pulled in bulls on 2 ocassions
- cow calls pulled in 2 spikes and a satalite bull
- light and heavy breeding sequence
- cow calling and moving toward a bull



Location bugles worked as locators on bulls at various times as well as loud lost cow calls.
Once again, the popping grunt worked very well to stop bulls and also to keep bulls interested once they got nervous and spooky.

I used all calling tactics to get close to bulls or to pull them closer but Twinkieman also used spot and stalk as a backup if a bull couldn't be called in. He is very good at stalking in on a bull if need be.

[Tigger]

Scenario #1: Locator Bugle. Screw up #1 got caught trying to loop around downwind as the bull was doing the same thing.
Scenario #2: Locator Bugle. Set up and called him in with whining cow calls, raking, and aggressive bugling. Cut the real bull off twice. Buddy just got busted on the draw cuz the bull changed course arubtly due to an obstruction. Just bad luck, really not a screw up.
Scenario #3: Heard the bugle, cow called our way to him. Let him reel us right in. Worked perfectly. Team worked perfectly together and I am really proud of the teamwork. Buddy was the cow, I was out ahead. We got hung up and my buddy convinced the bull to move just a little bit....30 yards maybe? But that was all it took. Thwack! 150 yard tracking job led us right to him.

What I learned? Being on the same page with your companion(s) is beyond crucial. It is imperative.

[elk.addict]

I had my first successful ambush! I can't tell you how many times in the past I setup for an ambush and nothing ever came of it. Well it all changed this past season. The day before, we heard some elk talk coming from below. We heard/watched a herd transition from feeding into a bedding area. The following morning, we setup real early in that same bedding area. This was a fairly large bedding area so I just picked a random spot on the hill overlooking hoping to get lucky, and I did. Bull was in the lead and I made a 30 yard shot on him.

'Bout time I had some dumb luck


As for my partner.....

Had a herd bull that was bugling like crazy. Moved into about 100 yards and started doing some cow calling (didn't want to get too close as there was a lot of cows that could bust us). Anyhow, as usual, the bull answered every time but wasn't going to leave his crew. We decided to try and stay downwind and sneak closer. We blew out 2 cows on the way in, but the herd remained (this was somewhat dense timber so I think that sort of helped us). Anyhow, we figured we were pretty close to the spot where we heard the last bugle (we were guessing about 50 yards). I started cow calling again and next thing we knew this bull was RIGHT on top of us. He came crashing through the trees and hit the skids at about 10 yards when he realized we were not cows, he stood there for several moments, leaving a nice broadside shot for my partner, but was unable to get his release on the d-loop (he's a newb and was extremely excited). Should of been a dead bull if we were prepared for that, oh well that's elk hunting. But the important thing is what worked. I've had success several times now but just closing the distance and then commencing with cow talk.

[Lefty]

I didnt kill a bull but we were successful
Using locate bugles early Sept put a bulls under 25 yards called in a couple herds,.. ran a herd bull off with his cow,put a cow at 8 yards. All good stuff

[Elkduds]

The most successful aspect of my '15 season was scouting for a dozen days. Scouting is one of my favorite aspects of hunting. What I learned allowed me to spend a lot more time near elk while hunting.

[Waygoner]

You forgot to include "dumb luck" as a choice.

I shot my first elk with a muzzle loader this year. Things were pretty quiet until the 2nd weekend. I had a buck tag in my pocket too and decided to look for some nice bucks I'd jumped earlier in the week. I walked up a small drainage, cow calling sparingly. Another quiet morning and I didn't see any sign - deer or elk. I'd walked about a mile when a bugle rang out just ahead. I started scanning for elk and spotted a few cows about 80 yards ahead. They took off running down the drainage, headed straight for me. It looked like they got spooked. I tried to draw a bead on one but when they got within 10 yards they turned and headed back up the hill. Six cows and one spike. The spike peeled off into the aspen on the other side.

I crawled ahead about 20 yards for a better view. A big 6x6 came tearing out the aspens on the opposite side. He was bugling and pushing cows. One cow decided to stop broadside from me at 60 yards and I dropped her on the spot. The herd blew out, I could see the big bull and maybe a dozen cows and two spikes. I made sure the cow was dead and started back for the truck. I bumped another bull on the way back that I think was a satellite that had been harassing the herd bull. They were all so riled up they didn't even notice me. It all happened fast. Maybe 3 minutes from when I heard the first bugle to when I shot. Due to the lack of sign/activity I really didn't expect to see elk. I just happened to be in the right place at the right time.

[Lost Dog]

Great story Wagoner! Right place at the right time! Thanks for sharing.

[cohunter14]

Great story Wagoner! Right place at the right time! Thanks for sharing.

x2! Amazing how fast a hunt can turn around.

[bsshaver]

What worked in 2015 is setting up where I set up first day every year and wait for that travel corridor. Sure enough 4 bulls like clockwork come in. 3 raghorns
What didn't work is that south wind that is NEVER there. lol